Etiology of laryngeal stridor in 297 cases of infants

Abstract

Objective To summarize the cause of laryngeal stridor in infants in order to make accurate diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Methods We reviewed medical records of 297 cases of patients less than 3 year of age with the presenting symptom of stridor who were initially evaluated in the outpatient setting of otorhinolaryngological department from Jan 2005 to Jan 2010.The causes of stridor were clarified by examinations of ultrafine electronic laryngoscope,throat three-dimensional CT,and bronchoscopy in all cases.Patients underwent history-taking,physical examination and flexible laryngoscopy,CT examination or bronchoscopy evaluation in the operating room.Results Of all 297 patients,199 cases ( 67.0％ ) were diagnosed as congenital airway abnomalities for cause of stridor,which included congenital laryngeal abnomalities in 169(84.9％,169/199) and congenital tracheal abnormalities in 30 cases( 15.1％,30/199).Another 98 cases (33.0％,98/297) were diagnosed as acquired disease for cause of stridor.The most congenital laryngeal anomaly was laryngomalacia ( 159,94.1％,159/169 ).The most congenital tracheal abnormalities was tracheomalacia ( 14,46.7％,14/30 ).Sixty-four cases ( 65.3％,64/98 ) were diagnosed as foreign body in airway and 26 cases (26.5％,26/98) were respiratory infection,which were the first and second most common causes of acquired disease for stuidor.Conclusion Congenital airway structural abnormalities as a major cause of infant laryngeal stridor,followed by acquired disorders,including airway foreign body and infection. Key words: Laryngeal stridor; Laryngomalacia; Airway obstruction; Infant